News Details

Luechtefeld statement on end of scheduled session

5/31/2016

State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) offered the following comments on May 31, after the Illinois Senate passed a funding bill for Fiscal Year 2017 to cover education expenses.

“It is my hope that the education funding component can be settled sooner rather than later. It is almost a fantasy that we will be able to promise $900 million more towards K-12 funding, and I believe this is another empty promise for elementary and secondary education. It is also astounding that Chicago is getting 45 percent of the K-12 funds, when they only have 18 percent of the state’s students,” Luechtefeld said. “The budget deficit is real and to make any further expansions of programs are unrealistic.”

Senator Luechtefeld also stated that the overall Fiscal Year 2016 and 2017 budget remain unresolved. “Republican lawmakers have joined with the Governor to seek a short term solution which will fund our 2016 and 2017 obligations until January. We stand committed to remaining in session as long as it takes to fix this fiscal mess. There are far too many critical situations which only get worse the longer the impasse remains in place.”